Requests for Applications (RFAs)
- RFA-HD-25-010: The Road to Prevention of Stillbirth – Clinical Research Centers (UG1 Clinical Trial Optional)
- RFA-HD-25-011: The Road to Prevention of Stillbirth – Data Coordinating Center (UM2 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
FAQS
For Both RFAs
Are applications with multiple project directors (PDs)/principal investigators (PIs) permitted?
Yes. Institutions/organizations may propose multiple PDs/PIs. We recommend that applicants follow the Multi-Project Instructions for NIH and Other Public Health Service (PHS) Agencies (PDF 6.49 MB), part of the Research Instructions for NIH and Other PHS Agencies: SF424 (R&R) Application Packages Guide (PDF 4.25 MB), in conjunction with RFA-specific language.
Additional information on the implementation plans and policies and procedures to allow more than one PI is available at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/multi_pi/index.html.
FAQs specific to RFA-HD-25-010
The budget for Year 1 is $860,000. Will it be adjusted in future years? How should we plan our budget?
Application budgets may not exceed $860,000 in direct costs per year. The maximum project period is 5 years.
How many research centers in total will be selected?
While NICHD intends to fund between three to five research centers, the actual number of awards is contingent upon NIH appropriations and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.
Can we propose satellite site(s)? Are there any geographic requirements? For example, would it be acceptable if the sites are not in the same state?
Applicants can include satellite sites. In the application, provide justification for adding the site(s), such as increased access to relevant populations, enhanced participant diversity, broader geographic catchment area, and appropriate expertise that can contribute to enhance the research center. There is no geographic location requirement for satellite sites. The main concern is whether the research center can effectively manage and oversee a proposed satellite site(s).
Can you specify the role of community stakeholders?
It is up to each applicant how they choose to include community stakeholders. However, a 2-page plan for inclusion of people with lived experience (PWLE) is a requirement of the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) (review Section IV. Application and Submission Information).
Investigators are encouraged to engage with PWLE in a way that informs the scientific aims of the application and increases or validates the potential impact of the application. The plan will vary depending on the scientific aims, expertise required, the environment and performance site(s), as well as how the project aims are structured. Possible methods of incorporating PWLE may include focus groups, community engagement boards, parent/care partner engagement boards, and other methods or a combination of methods.
The plan for inclusion of PWLE will be considered as part of the scientific and technical peer review evaluation, as well as at the programmatic level with respect to funding decisions. In addition, Section V. Application Review Information provides special review criteria in the “Significance” section regarding inclusion of PWLE.
How many projects will be implemented across awarded research centers? What does NICHD envision?
The total number of projects is contingent upon NIH appropriations and the submission of meritorious applications (review Section II. Award Information). Awarded research centers will be expected to participate in a collaborative and interactive manner with other research centers, the data coordinating center, and NICHD in all aspects of the Stillbirth Research Consortium, including sharing of biospecimens and data. As described in Section I. NOFO Description, the steering committee will prioritize concepts and select the protocol(s) to be conducted in collaboration with NIH. A decision to fund a particular research center(s) will not commit the Stillbirth Research Consortium to developing proposed protocol concepts by recipients into clinical protocols.
If a PI applies to the research center funding opportunity, can they be included as a consultant for the companion data coordinating center funding opportunity (RFA-HD-25-011)?
Yes, this is allowable. We realize there are many roles that an investigator can take within the overall Stillbirth Research Consortium (e.g., the overall PD/PI team, as a consultant, etc.). Investigators can participate on more than one application but cannot submit more than one application as the overall PD/PI. Personnel within an applicant institution can be included as percent effort on the grant and can be paid as consultants if outside an applicant institution.
What are the page limits for the Research Strategy? Are the page limits inclusive or exclusive of the Specific Aims page?
The PHS 398 Research Plan Form includes fields to upload several attachments, including Specific Aims and Research Strategy. The Research Strategy may not exceed 12 pages and the Specific Aims may not exceed 1 page. For more information, please refer to the Research Instructions for NIH and Other PHS Agencies: SF424 (R&R) Application Packages Guide (PDF 4.25 MB) and the Table of Page Limits.
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